east belfast community development …...to be asked therefore include whether these projects have...

H E A LTH AUDITR E P O R TEAST BELFAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

CONTENTS

METHODOLOGY 4

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DATA 5

COMMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS 12

APPENDICES- One: Advisory Group Members 19

- Two: Survey Respondents 20

- Three: Survey Data 23

- Four: Examples of Project Impact 42

- Five: Action Plan November 2006 - December 2007 50

The Research Project was funded by Investing for Health

We would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who took the time to participate in the survey.All respondents are listed in Appendix One.

Jane Field Education and DevelopmentJustine Brown East Belfast Community Development Agency

June 2006

01EAST BELFAST HEALTH AUDIT REPORT

THIS REPORT PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE METHODOLOGY USED FOR THEHEALTH AUDIT, THE DATA COLLECTED FROM THE HEALTH AUDIT, AND ANANALYSIS OF DATA HIGHLIGHTS. IT ALSO OFFERS A COMMENT ANDRECOMMENDATIONS.

CONTEXT

East Belfast Community DevelopmentAgency appointed a Health and SocialConnections Worker in November 2005. Oneof the core objectives for this worker was toproduce a mapping report reflecting existinghealth activity in East Belfast.

The aims of the Health Audit across EastBelfast and Castlereagh were predominantlyto:

• Gain relevant information providing abaseline of the various types and levels ofactivity operating in communities related tohealth and well-being improvement(specifically in relation to Investing for Healthgoals and objectives).

• Provide data and opportunities to facilitatebetter and more informed connectionsbetween projects with competing agendas, andcontribute towards supporting communities tobe more aware of and better able to influencethe impact of the Investing for Healthagenda.

The agreed outputs of the Health Audit were:

• To produce an up-to-date picture of varioustypes and levels of activity operating incommunities which are related to health andwell-being improvement; and specifically toInvesting for Health goals and objectives.

• Better and more informed connectionsbetween projects with competing agendas.

• That communities are more aware of andable to influence the impact of the Investingfor Health agenda.

Education and Development was appointedto work with the Health and SocialConnections Worker to support the fieldwork,collate and analyse survey returns, and writethe Report. The Project Advisory Group alsohad an input into the development of thesurvey used, and a meeting was held withmembers to discuss the draft Report andimplications for the development of the roleof the Health and Social Connections Worker(see Appendix One for members of theProject Advisory Group).

68 completed surveys were returned; theprojects, organisations and contact people aregiven in Appendix Two; the survey data isgiven in full in Appendix Three; AppendixFour shows examples of the impact of thehealth projects on individuals.

This Report provides an overview of themethodology used for the Health Audit, thedata collected from the health audit, and ananalysis of data highlights. It also offers acomment and recommendations.

In addition, Appendix Five of the Reportoutlines the Health and Social ConnectionsProject Action Plan for the forthcoming yearwhich has been developed directly in responseto the comments and recommendations madeby Jane Field. This Action Plan sets out thethree main objectives and areas of activity forwork. The Action Plan exists as a guide andwill evolve and develop further over the yearperiod in the light of experience, learning andnew evidence.


METHODOLOGY

Jane Field met with the Health and SocialConnections Worker on several occasions todiscuss the approach to the fieldwork. A draftsurvey was prepared by the Health and SocialConnections Worker which was reviewed andrevised and circulated amongst the AdvisoryGroup for comment.

It was agreed that the survey would beemailed and posted to all 250 members ofEast Belfast Community DevelopmentAgency along with a covering letter, in April2006. Groups were also contacted by phoneand encouraged to complete the survey andoffered the opportunity to complete it face-to-face with the Health and SocialConnections Worker.

Surveys were returned either by post or email;and some chose to complete the surveyduring a face-to-face interview. 22organisations responded to EBCDA to saythat they did not have a health related projectrunning within their organisation. It is alsolikely that other members are not currentlyinvolved in delivering health related projects.

A total of 68 completed surveys werereturned for collation and analysis.

In addition to the surveys two focus groupswere facilitated by the Health and SocialConnections Worker.

The draft report was circulated to members ofthe Advisory Group; and Jane Field attended

a meeting of the Advisory Group in June2006, in order to discuss and finalise theReport.


HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DATA


Appendix Three presents all the data collatedfrom the 68 completed survey returns. Thissection of the Report provides highlightsfrom the data. It should be noted that noteveryone responded to all the questions, andmany questions allowed for more than oneanswer (hence at times data will not ‘add up’to 68 responses).

PROJECT PROFILEAdults (aged 25 – 59 years) were the targetgroup for over two thirds of the surveyrespondents, with almost two thirds of theprojects responding targeting older peopleolder people (aged over 60 years). Youngwomen (17 – 25 years old) were the targetgroups for over half the survey respondents.30 projects targeted young men (17 – 25 yearsold), 29 projects targeted 11 – 16 year olds;and 24 and 22 projects respectively targetedprimary school children and pre-schoolchildren.

All the survey respondents worked within atleast one of the BT4. BT5. BT8 and BT16post code areas; and most worked in severalareas, including some in addition to these.

Of those who responded to questions aboutthe nature of funding for their health project;35 (just over half the respondents) stated thattheir project was funded for a specific timeperiod; whilst 15 projects (just over onequarter) are permanently / core funded. 4projects were not being funded at the time ofcompleting the survey; and 1 is self-funded.

The most frequently mentioned funding bodywas the South and East Belfast Trust (SEBT),which funds (or contributes to the funding of)11 of the projects in East Belfast thatresponded to the survey (4 throughpermanent / core funding, and 7 over aspecified timeframe).

The duration of funding received by thoseprojects in receipt of funding over a specifictimeframe ranged from eighteen months tosix years (with one major project receivingfunding over an eighteen year period). By theend of June 2006 (ie before the publication ofthis Report) 5 of the projects finding willhave ceased; with a further 5 projects fundingfinishing before the end of 2006.

One of the problems for health related (andother projects) is that project funding is veryoften time-bound. For projects with a specifictarget and goal in sight (which have a rationalbeginning, middle and end) this may berational and realistic. However, many of thehealth related projects in East Belfast believethat the work they are doing is ongoing,certainly over the medium-term; and whenfunding ceases a gap is left; and communityneeds are unmet.

HEALTH ISSUES ADDRESSEDBY THE PROJECTS

A wide range of health issues is addressed bythe projects. The most frequently mentionedwere:• Health information (42 projects)• Mental / emotional wellbeing (40 projects)• Social isolation (40 projects)• Advice / information (39 projects)• Training / education (36 projects)• Healthy eating / nutrition (35 projects)• Social inclusion (35 projects)• Raising health awareness (34 projects)• Drugs / alcohol misuse (31 projects)• Life skills (31 projects)• Older people’s health (31 projects)• Physical activity (31 projects)• Home safety (28 projects)• Community safety (27 projects)• Family support (25 projects).

Survey respondents were asked to state howtheir health project contributes to the healthneeds of the community. A wide range ofexamples of how projects contributing to thehealth needs of the community werementioned; including housing, providinghealth checks, mental health and wellbeing,peer education and services for victims ofdomestic violence. The most frequentlymentioned health needs that are being metthrough the projects were:

• Health workshops / training (31 projects)• Social inclusion / reducing isolation (24projects)• Information (21 projects)• Raises participation in physical activity (18projects)• Promotes healthy lifestyle choices (19projects)• Healthy eating (14 projects)• Befriending / reassurance / support (12

projects)• Community safety / addressing fear of crime(9 projects)• Drugs awareness (9 projects)• Community based playgroup with parentalinvolvement / child development (9 projects)• Parenting skills / parent support / positiveparenting (9 projects)• Personal skills / personal development (8projects)• Improve educational opportunities forchildren (7 projects)• Counselling eg trauma, addiction problems (6projects)• Mental health / promoting mental wellbeing (6 projects)

The survey asked what impact the projects aremaking on the health of the community. Again,a range of examples of the impact that projectsare making was given; with the most frequentlymentioned examples being:

• Greater awareness / understanding of healthissues (26 projects)• Greater integration and participation in thecommunity (21 projects)• Improved healthy lifestyles (21 projects)• Advice and information available (18 projects)• Social inclusion (14 projects)• Depression reduced / emotional wellbeing(13 projects)• Signposting / referrals / linking people toother opportunities/services (12 projects)• Improved physical fitness levels / physicalactivity (11 projects)• Reduced feelings of social isolation (10projects)• Information more widely spread (8 projects)• 9 Referred people to GP (as a result of healthchecks / information) (7 projects)


From the responses given it is evident thatthere is an awareness about the importance ofhaving an impact and that projects need to beable to demonstrate outcomes and impact.The survey asked for (anonymous) examplesof how the project has had an impact onindividuals; these are shown in AppendixFour.

Looking more specifically at outcomes andimpact, the survey asked respondents toexplain how their projects have beenmeasured or evaluated. 14 projects have hadan external evaluation (with a further 5intending to appoint an external evaluator inthe future) and 14 undertake internalevaluation. 20 projects rely on verbalfeedback; whilst others (12) record numberspresent at events and 12 projects make use ofquestionnaires and evaluation forms. Otherexamples of the way in which the success ofprojects are measured included referrals toother agencies, maximising benefits and avideo diary. One person expressed a feelingthat “Sometimes it is hard to measure theimpact, but we need to make it a priority tohave indicators for measuring success”.

40 survey respondents identified unmet healthneeds in the community, with a further 13respondents stating that they were ‘not sure’whether or not there are unmet health needs.Only 7 respondents stated that they had notidentified any unmet health needs. The sixmost frequently mentioned unmet healthneeds were:

• Depression / mental health • Social isolation • Healthy eating • Older people’s health issues• Drugs and alcohol awareness • Sexual health • Suicide prevention and issues (including selfharm)

Those present at the Youth Focus Groupnoted a range of needs for young people,including a lack of leadership in East Belfast,anti-social behaviour, poor diet, bullying,truancy, physical, social and mental wellbeing

(including suicide awareness), and theimportance of engaging parents.

However, a total of 47 different unmet healthneeds were identified in total; and this is oneaspect of the data that should be consideredin its entirety by the Health and SocialConnections Worker and the Advisory Group.The Advisory Group may also wish to drawon the information gained from two FocusGroups held with SEBT staff, recentlygathered by the Inner East Belfast[Neighbourhood Renewal] Partnership. Thediscussion focussed on current trends andhealth needs within Inner East Belfast, andways in which Health and Social Services andcommunity initiatives could more effectivelycomplement each other.

It is noted that there are projects already inexistence, which are addressing many of theidentified unmet health needs. The questionsto be asked therefore include whether theseprojects have funding to cover a wide enougharea in East Belfast, do projects have theresources to be able to meet the need andwhether community organisations (and others,for example Health and Social Serviceprofessionals) know enough about the rangeof projects that are up and running? Some ofthese questions are raised in the answers tothe next question. There is also the factprevious projects were addressing some ofthe unmet needs, but have ceased due to thelack of available funding; for example, onerespondent noted that “the loss of the COPEProject had a major impact on peoplesuffering from anxiety and depression”.

Projects felt that they could support increasedsignposting and information relating to healthissues and effectively promote health work incooperation with other projects through amore joined-up approach. There was also afeeling that it should be possible to workmore effectively with and have increasedengagement with GPs and healthprofessionals to improve service delivery andincrease health awareness, intervention andprevention.


PARTNERSHIP, LINKS ANDNETWORKING

Partnership and a more coordinated approachto working was the focus of the third sectionof the survey; addressing ‘Links andNetworks’. 37 of the respondents stated thattheir project was part of a larger or widerproject; 55 projects work in partnership withother community organisations in East Belfastor Castlereagh and 55 work in partnershipwith statutory or voluntary organisations. Thisfeedback indicates a high level of partnershipand implies a willingness to work (or arecognition of the benefits of working) inpartnership with other organisations.

The survey respondents participate in a rangeof networking activities; the three mostfrequently mentioned being:• Attending conferences/workshops (56projects)• Meetings with others in a similar role/job(54 projects)• Member of a Steering Group/AdvisoryGroup / Management Committee (48projects).

Only 13 respondents felt that there aresufficient links between communityorganisations; whilst 31 felt that there areinsufficient links and 20 are ‘not sure’. Arange of suggestions for improvingcollaboration, partnership and ‘joined up’working across community groups was made;with the two most frequently givensuggestions being a greater sharing ofinformation (14 projects) and thatorganisations could be less territorial; (forexample share resources, ideas and facilities).

It was thought that one of the reasons forlack of communication and cooperationbetween groups is due to suspicion caused by

competition for the same pot of funding.Another respondent agreed that there is “aneed for a coordinated approach to workingtogether; but we may need to change themindset of people before this can beachieved”.

A number of practical examples about howgreater communication, cooperation andsharing of information could happen weremade; these included a website of all healthrelated projects, regular emails giving updatesand organising conference, workshops orforums; although one respondents added anote of caution “Beware – meetings can betime consuming and counter productive”.

One project respondent suggested a wayforward; “hold a one day workshop todetermine potential alliances and to produce asimple action plan of engagement with eachother to optimise delivery or determine newopportunities”. This was suggested prior tothe development and delivery of the InnerEast Neighbourhood Partnership’s ThemedWorkshop on Health (June 5th 2006); whererepresentatives from the community, statutoryand voluntary sector met to discuss a range ofissues pertaining to health in Inner EastBelfast; to identify priorities and suggest waysforward to implement positive change. Thefeedback from those attending this two and ahalf hour session was very positive; andsuggests that there may be value in facilitatinga similar activity with community groupsacross East Belfast.

Three respondents suggested furtherhighlighting and promotion of success storiesabout community projects, with onesuggesting a ‘celebration day’.


STATUTORY AGENCIES, POLICY AND PRACTICE

The survey asked the level of contact thatrespondents have with a number of statutoryagencies. 35 projects (just over half) haveregular contact with the SEBT, and a further15 have occasional contact with the Trust;although 7 stated that they have no contactwith SEBT. 29 projects have regular contactwith either Belfast City Council or CastlereaghBorough Council, and20 have occasionalcontact with the Councils; whilst 25 projectshave regular contact with NIHE, and 19 haveoccasional contact with the HousingExecutive. 22 projects have regular contactwith the Police Service, and 23 haveoccasional contact with the PSNI; 18 haveregular contact with the Education andLibrary Boards (either Belfast or South andEast). And 16 projects have regular contactwith the Eastern Health and Social ServicesBoard. One respondent noted, “Statutory andcommunity links can be difficult, largelybecause of bureaucracy and time constraints”and another felt that “Community groupswork well at management level with statutoryagencies, but people on the ground need toknow more”.

43 survey respondents said that they activelyattempt to influence statutory agencies’policies and practice; with the five mostfrequently stated methods being:

• Consultation opportunities / response togovernment papers• Through a link organisation or network• Participate in strategic committees, statutorypanels or seminars• Lobby MLAs• Networking

8 respondents felt that they needed furthersupport in lobbying and knowing how best tohave an impact on influencing policy andpractice; and that they needed more skills, toknow who to approach and a greaterunderstanding of the system and structures.One respondent noted that their organisationdoesn’t get too involved in “due to timeconstraints and unwillingness to be involvedin endless meetings”. During one of theFocus Groups concern was expressed aboutthe ability to impact on policy and practice,and that many government initiativesappeared to overlap “there is a lack ofunderstanding about how government policiestranslate on the ground”.


DURING ONE OF THE FOCUS GROUPS CONCERN WASEXPRESSED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO IMPACT ON POLICYAND PRACTICE, AND THAT MANY GOVERNMENTINITIATIVES APPEARED TO OVERLAP “THERE IS A LACK OFUNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT POLICIESTRANSLATE ON THE GROUND

INVESTING FOR HEALTH

The final section of the Health Auditfocussed on Investing for Health.Respondents were asked which of the sevenInvesting for Health objectives their projectlinked to or related to. The table below showsthe feedback:

The table shows that over three quarters ofthe projects responding to the survey link into Investing for Health Objectives 7 (ToEnable Healthier Lifestyle Choices) and 3 (ToPromote Mental Health and Emotional WellBeing); with only two-fifths of the projectsworking towards Objective 4 (HealthyEnvironment and Affordable Housing).

Respondents gave examples of the ways inwhich their project contributed towards eachObjective; full details can be found inAppendix Three.

There is a high level of interest shown indeveloping partnerships and working withothers to further respond to the Investing forHealth Objectives, with 53 (just over three


OBJECTIVE LINKS TO PROJECT

Objective 1 To Reduce Poverty 38Objective 2 To Develop Skills 47Objective 3 To Promote Mental Health and Emotional Well Being 51Objective 4 Healthy Environment and Affordable Housing 29Objective 5 Neighbourhood Improvement 35Objective 6 To Reduce Accidental Injuries and Deaths 29Objective 7 To Enable Healthier Lifestyle Choices 52

quarters) of the respondents expressing awillingness to work in collaboration. Somegave examples of areas or projects that theywould be interested in working on withothers; and others noted specificorganisations, projects or networks withwhom they would be interested in working inpartnership.

COMMENT ANDRECOMMENDATIONS

The data from the Health Audit provides anoverview of the range of community basedhealth projects that are in place across EastBelfast and Castlereagh. The emphasis of theprojects is on intervention, prevention andraising health awareness; i.e. a social model ofhealth. All age groups are targeted by theprojects; with many delivering services orproviding facilities for a specific age group.

The range of health issues addressed by theproject are wide and varied; from socialisolation to healthy eating and physical activityto addressing mental health issues. Many ofthe projects offer training and personaldevelopment opportunities, some offeringqualifications, whilst others run more informalworkshops. Providing information, verbally orin user-friendly formats, is an importantelement of many of the projects. Signpostingpeople to other services, projects and healthprofessionals is also a key part of the work ofmany of the community based projects.

Almost two thirds of the respondentsidentified unmet health needs in thecommunity; which are listed in full inAppendix Three. Many of the health needsmentioned by the projects correlate closelywith those recently identified by SEBT healthand social services professionals in FocusGroups held with Trust staff working inInner East Belfast in May this year; and alsowith those issues raised at a NeighbourhoodRenewal Themed Workshop held in earlyJune.

The survey respondents participate innetworking activities in a range of ways;including being part of a larger initiative,

attending conferences, meeting up with otherswho have a similar role (formally andinformally), and working in partnership withcommunity and / or statutory organisations.The majority of project respondents felt thatthere are insufficient links and a need forgreater collaboration between communityorganisations in East Belfast and Castlereagh.Feedback suggested that there is a willingnessto work more closely together, and the surveyrespondents suggested a number of ways inwhich improved partnership working andjoined up thinking could be implemented.

The final section of the survey listed theseven Investing for Health Objectives; andasked respondents to identify which of theObjectives their health project links to orrelates to. Every respondent noted that his orher project contributed to at least one of theseven objectives (in the vast majority of casesmore than one objective, and in a minority ofresponses in excess of five differentobjectives); and went on to explain ways inwhich the project made a contribution. Overthree-quarters of the survey respondentsexpressed a willingness to work in partnershipwith others to develop projects to furthercontribute towards the Investing for Healthstrategy.

The final section of this Report offers somesuggestions to build on the Health Audit andto develop the role of the Health and SocialConnections Worker, based on the datagained from the survey.


WORKING DATABASE

The survey returns provide an ideal basis for aworking database. Full contact details, alongwith the project aims and contributiontowards meeting health needs of thecommunity are given for every one of the 68projects that participated in the Health Audit.Further, respondents have provided detailsabout current networking activities andpartnerships and expressed their views ondeveloping further partnership opportunities.This data should be developed as a working

database. All respondents should receive acopy of the Health Audit Report.Consideration should be given to the idea ofhosting workshops to discuss the findings ofthe Health Audit and considering waysforward. It is recommended that numbers belimited at the workshops in order to facilitatefull in-depth discussion (around 20 people)and that as such it may be necessary to offertwo or three different dates.


UNMET HEALTH NEEDSThe unmet health needs identified by thesurvey respondents are very similar to thoseidentified during other discussions that havetaken place during the Spring and Summer of2006 (for example those identified by SEBTHealth and Social Service professionals inFocus Groups and those identified byconsultation informing the Inner EastPartnership’s developing Action Plan underNeighbourhood Renewal).

One of the recurring themes is the need to beinformed about community initiatives and toensure that those working in the statutory andvoluntary sectors are able to easily know theprojects and initiatives available, and to beeasily able to access such information. Surveyrespondents identified the need for a joinedup approach, such that duplication can beavoided and increased opportunities forsignposting people to other opportunities can

be taken up. There is also a need to sharegood practice and to transfer such goodpractice from one project to another.

The Inner East Belfast and TullycarnetNeighbourhood Partnerships (establishedunder the Neighbourhood Renewal initiative)will both be including health issues withintheir rolling Action Plans. It is important thatinformation is shared and that any initiativesthat affect the community as a whole workcollaboratively.

INCREASED PARTNERSHIP WORKING AND COLLABORATIONThe survey data indicated a recognition thatcommunity groups in the past may not haveworked as closely or collaboratively as theymight have done. Historically there are manyreasons for this, including communityfragmentation and a fear of competition forthe same (relatively small) pot of competitivefunding. Feedback gathered during the HealthAudit suggests a real willingness to overcomethe practice of ‘going it alone’ and suspicionthat has been prevalent, and already manyprojects have actively looked towardsopportunities for partnership working.

One of the difficulties is in knowing exactlywhat is available and what is happening acrosscommunities in terms of initiatives, activities,opportunities and services across thecommunity, statutory and voluntary sectors.This is not made any easier due to therelatively short-term nature of funding formany projects, such that projects come andgo. This has been demonstrated in the HealthAudit in so far as it is known that funding foralmost one-seventh of the projects includedin the Audit ceases before the end of 2006.In itself the fact that ‘good’ initiatives thatplay (or have played) an important role andhad a positive impact on the health of thecommunity cease due to lack of funding canadd to wariness and does little to help thecredibility of community based projects (forexample one respondent cited the demise ofthe COPE project as having a detrimentaleffect on those in the community with mentalhealth difficulties).

Suggestions were made by respondents tocreate ways in which the community canremain up-to-date about initiatives and who

they can contact or signpost others onto.Ideas about ways in which this could be doneincluded regular email or paper bulletins and acommunity health initiative website. Somerespondents felt that EBCDA is ideally placedto facilitate greater networking acrosscommunity groups. One respondent felt that“links between organisations need to bestructured and managed as a core activity andnot as a result of responding to a single issueor event” which reiterates the need for theHealth and Social Connections Worker post.


ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IS IN KNOWING EXACTLY WHATIS AVAILABLE AND WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSSCOMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF INITIATIVES, ACTIVITIES,OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES ACROSS THECOMMUNITY, STATUTORY AND VOLUNTARY SECTORS.

About one-fifth of the survey respondentstake time to participate in communityconsultations on proposed policy and practice,and a similar number participate in strategiccommittees, statutory panels or seminars.Some take a proactive approach and lobbyMLAs, Councillors or individuals at a nationallevel, whilst others rely more on informingother organisations, such that they contributetowards their lobbying. Whilst only 8respondents specifically stated that they wouldwelcome input as to how to lobby andinfluence policy and practice more effectively,implications may be drawn from the data thatthere is a need across community groups tobe better placed to participate in influencingpolicy and practice.

Towards the end of 2005 the CommunityDevelopment Health Network identified a gapin the capacity of Community and HealthWorkers’ skills in terms of effectively lobbyingand influencing policy and practice, and aconcern across communities that thecommunity voice seems to be relativelyineffective, and a (consequent?) growingapathy in participating in numerousconsultations.

It is recommended that EBCDA worksclosely with the Community DevelopmentHealth Network to further explore how tobuild capacity across the community such thatthe community voice has a greater impact andis heard and listened to by decision-makers.

LINKS AND NETWORKS

Many of the projects have the active supportof the South and East Belfast Trust and otheragencies, and most of the projects haveregular contact with the Trust, NIHE, or thePSNI, with a smaller number in regularcontact with Education and Library Boards orthe Eastern Health and Social Services Board.Indications are that much communicationwith representatives from statutory agencies isat a relatively senior level, and concerns wereexpressed that there is a need for greatercommunication and collaboration with thoseworking in communities. Whilst it isunderstood that this Report will be forwardedto the statutory agencies, it may well be thosein management positions who review theReport rather than informing those ‘on the

ground’.Ways of facilitating greater communication

with those working for the statutory agenciesneeds to be addressed. It would seem thatthere is a willingness from workers incommunity, statutory and voluntary sectors towork more collaboratively; the question ismore about how to make this happen inpractice, taking into account that time is themost limited resource. One respondent noted“community infrastructure is considerablyunder-developed in a number of the mostdisadvantaged communities targeted. In orderto maximise the limited capacity forcommunity activity, interventions need to beinclusive, collective and holistic”.


POLICY AND PRACTICE


CELEBRATING SUCCESS

DEMONSTRATING IMPACT

The majority of survey respondentsrecognised the need to measure anddemonstrate impact and outcomes. Someprojects appointed an external evaluator whilstothers have implemented internal evaluationand monitoring systems (in the past feedbackhas shown the benefit of ongoing formativeevaluation contributing to the developmentand review processes). For some, quantitativedata (such as the financial maximisation ofbenefits or the number of referrals to GPsfollowing community health checks) providesa very concrete measurement of success,whilst for others measuring anddemonstrating the impact of healthawareness-raising measures is more difficult.Whilst a range of self-evaluation tools is

available to community groups, there wouldappear to remain a need to support groups inbeing able to effectively measure anddemonstrate the success of their projects.

Dominic Harrison (Deputy Director, PublicHealth, North West England region), thekeynote Investing for Health Conferencespeaker this year, made a case for the need todemonstrate the economic impact ofintervention, prevention and health awarenessprojects. There may be benefits in furtherexploring this approach and there may besimple tools or materials that can bedeveloped to encourage community projectsto participate in measuring the economicimpact of their projects.

A number of the survey respondentssuggested that there would be benefit inpromoting successful projects. Some haveinvited senior managers to a presentationshowing the activities delivered and impact ofprojects, and others have given a presentationto MLAs at Stormont. The Investing forHealth Standing Conference also provides anopportunity through the workshops toshowcase the work delivered by communityhealth projects.However, there may be a way in whichthrough a coordinated, collaborative approachgood practice and impact could be effectivelydemonstrated to those who make decisions.Further, this would be in line with themessage that came across strongly at the

Second Investing for Health StandingConference (15th June 2006), whichrecommended regular spotlighting andpromotion of good practice and the impactof community health prevention, interventionand awareness-raising projects.


SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS

The majority of community health projectsare funded over a specified timeframe. Formany, when the funding ceases, the projectstops or may continue offering limitedservices. Very often the health need remains.

There is a need for the community to identifyits strengths and the strengths of community-based projects in terms of developing anddelivering health initiatives, services andsupport structures that have an impact on

intervention, prevention and raising healthawareness that effectively support themainstream statutory services.

Having identified the strengths and the impactof community projects there is a case to bemade for developing a community strategy toseek Service Level Agreements with thestatutory agencies, such that projects may besustained and delivered to meet communityneeds.

FINALLY …

The Health Audit has raised a number ofissues that should be explored and developed.Much of this is potentially within the remit ofthe Health and Social Connections Worker.EBCDA, the Advisory Committee, withongoing consultation with the community,should identify the priorities and develop astrategy, closely linked to Investing for Healthin order to continue to develop, promote andsustain community-based health intervention,prevention and awareness-raising initiatives.

ONE RESPONDENT SUGGESTED “IT COULD BE USEFUL IF AREAS WERETARGETED AND EACH AGENCY TOOK ON A SPECIFIC REMIT WITHIN THAT AREAIN ORDER TO INVOLVE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY OVER A SPECIFIC PERIOD OFTIME TO MEET SPECIFIED TARGETS”.


MAGGIE ANDREWS East Belfast Partnership

MICHAEL BRIGGS East Belfast Community Development Agency

JUSTINE BROWN East Belfast Community Development Agency

MARK CORBETT National Energy Action

YVONNE COWAN South & East Belfast Trust

ALAN HOUSTON East Belfast Community Health Information Project

TANYA HUGHES Ballybeen Women’s Centre

MAUREEN MAGUIRE South & East Belfast Health & Social Care Group

ANN MARTIN Tullycarnet Community Forum

MAURICE MEEHAN Investing for Health – EHSSB

SANDRA MCCARRY South & East Belfast Trust

MARY MCMANUS East Belfast Independent Advice Centre

GERALDINE O’REGAN Inner East Belfast Sure Start

ALAN WILSON East Belfast Area Youth Project

APPENDIX ONE:HEALTH AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS

APPENDIX TWO:SURVEY RESPONDENTS


HEALTH PROJECT ORGANISATION CONTACT PERSON

Activities for the Elderly Clanmil & Housing Association Jean Scott

Age Concern Age Concern East Belfast & Sydney CookCastlereagh

Ballybeen Peer Education Ballybeen Womens Centre Gillian Stitt

Ballymacarrett Group of Ballymacarrett Group of Parishes Rev. Colin Hall-ThompsonParishes

Ballymacarret Youth & Ballymacarret Youth & Sam McCreadyCommunity Project Community Project

Carew II Family & Training Carew II Heather McMurrayCentre

Castlereagh Community Castlereagh Community Darren CurtisSafety Partnership Safety Partnership

Castlereagh Community Castlereagh Borough Council Lisa WilsonNetwork

Community Centre Walkway Comm Centre Rachael Davison

Community Sport Castlereagh Borough Council Clare BellProgramme

Contact Youth Counselling Contact Youth Counselling Julie MartinServices Services

Dee Street Community Dee Street Community Centre Tommy O’ReillyCentre

E.B.C.H.I.P. E.B.C.H.I.P. Ian Kerr

East Belfast Alternatives East Belfast Alternatives Andy Moorhead

APPENDIX TWO:SURVEY RESPONDENTS CONT...



East Belfast Area Youth East Belfast Area Project Alan WilsonProject

East Belfast CAB East Belfast CAB Linda Williamson

East Belfast Community East Belfast Community Kathleen FeenanHealth Information Health Information Worker’sWorker’s Group group

East Belfast Independent East Belfast Independent Mary Mc ManusAdvice centre

East Belfast Mission East Belfast Mission Linda Armitage

EBM ‘Meals on Wheels’ East Belfast Mission Peter QuigleyEBM ‘Mission Café’

Engage with Age Engage with Age Maire Gribbon

Engage with Age Engae with Age East Belfast Laurence Wright

First Steps Project The Oasis Centre Lesley Dornan

Fruit Co-operative Sydenham Infants’ School Jean Cogger

General Health Promotion Strathearn School Caroline Wilson

Glenluce Quality Caring Hilltop & Glenluce Care Limited Julie JamiesonCentre

Gingerbread NI Gingerbread NI Maeve Kelly

Good Neighbour Project The Oasis Centre Isobell Miles

Greenway Women’s Greenway Women’s Centre Jo KnockCentre




Healthy Living Centre EBCHIP Alan Houston

Healthy Tullycarnet Tullycarnet Primary School Mrs. Sandra JacksonNeighbourhood Project

Home Start Home Start East Belfast Eelco Westerhuis

Holiday Project ‘The Hopefuls’ Des Meredith

Imago Project Imago Project, Oasis Caring Angela O’Neillin Action

Increase Cycling Green Action John Wright

Inner East Belfast Sure IEBSS Geraldine O’ReganStart

Interface Interface Ian McKee

Interface Forum Short Strand Community Forum Sean Montgomery

Interface Youth Support Interface – Youth Support Jenny StuartProgramme Programme

Knocknagoney Knocknagoney Community Caroline Lambe Community Centre Centre (Centre Manager)

Lagan Village Home Safety The Bridge Colin RobinsonProject

Laganside Corporation Laganside Corporation Anne Harty

Monkey Nastixs Parenting Beechfield P.S Irene ReillyClasses

N/A Castlereagh Libraries (SEELB) Joan ThompsonMairead Ferguson




N/A CROWN Project John McQuillian

N/A EBCDA Sonia Anderson

N/A East Belfast Open Learning Centre Emma Young

N/A St. Clement’s Church of Rev. D. LoganIreland

N/A Tullycarnet Pres. Indoor Dave CrothersBowling Club

N/A Wandsworth Community Alison SmithAssociation

N.I. Community Addiction NICAS Alan ColemanService

Newtownbreda Women’s Newtownbreda Women’s Maureen JohnstonInstitute Institute

Northern Ireland Tenants Northern Ireland Tenants Murray WattAction Project Action Project

Oasis Early Years The Oasis Centre Andrew Dornan

Oasis Housing The Oasis Centre Barbara Young

Orangefield High School Orangefield High School W. Pearson

P.M.S & P.N.D Support P.M.S & P.N.D Support Julia Crawford

Senior Citizens’ Club Golden Year’s Club Mr. Tommy Chambers

South & East Belfast SEBT Yvonne CowanHealth Trust Sandra McCarry




Sydenham Cross- Sydenham Cross-Community Stephen DoddsCommunity Support Support CentreCentre

The Bytes Project The Bytes Project Maureen O’Gorman

The CODA Project The CODA Project Bobby McConnell(Community Drugs Awareness)

Tullycarnet Family Barnardos Claire HumphreyProject

Warm Start Project NEA NI Mark Corbett(06/07)

Womens Activity Lagan Water Sports Centre Jill McDonaldProgramme

Willowfield Parish Church Willowfield Parish Church Alan Higgins

APPENDIX FIVE:HEALTH & SOCIAL CONNECTIONS PROJECT ACTION PLAN NOVEMBER 2006 – DECEMBER 2007


AC T I V I T Y TA R G E T O U T P U T S T I M E S CA L E / ACTION R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y /C O M M U N I CAT I O N S

Working Database To establish a working To be used as a mailing Nov 06 – Ongoing Health database of individuals list source for potential Connectionsand organizations who are participants in Health Workerinvolved in the area of Connections Project. and EBCDAhealth and well-being Administrationimprovement within East Staff.Belfast and Castlereagh

Links & Networks To develop links and To represent EBCDA on Health networking opportunities health related networks Connectionsin order to make /groups: Workerconnections to the Health Issues Working QuarterlyEastern Area Investing Groupfor Health Agenda

Woodstock Ethnic MonthlyMinority Support Network

Mental Health MonthlyCommunity of Interest

Fit Futures Community Quarterlyof Interest

CDHN Community QuarterlyPharmacy AdvisoryGroup

Fuel Poverty QuarterlyCommunity of Interest

S & E Belfast Trust QuarterlyCommunity Forum

OBJECTIVE 1:TO SECURE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES LINKING EAST BELFAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTORGANIZATIONS ON THE THEME OF HEALTH IMPROVEMENT – INVESTING FOR HEALTH.



Links & Networks To provide easy to Mail outs and E-mails Ongoing Health understand information containing current and Connectionson relevant health and relevant information to Worker andwell-being issues and all EBCDA members. EBCDApractices. Administration

Health Connections QuarterlyProject updates in EBCDAnewsletter.

Signposting workers Ongoingto others who can helpwith specific queries.

Policy & Practice To develop the capacity To organize training in 6 half day training Health of community and health core modules such as sessions by Oct 07 Connections workers skills in terms of understanding the social Worker, CDHN,lobbying and influencing model of health and Eastern Areapolicy and practice. health inequalities, Investing for

the structure of health Health Manager,and other public services EHSSB, NICVA,in Northern Ireland, RPA, EBCHIP.the context of health policy, ie Investing for Health, A Shared Vision.

To begin to develop a By Oct 07lobbying group within East Belfast/Castlereagh specifically around healthrelated issues.

Feed local issues into Ongoingregional lobbying groups i.e. CDHN, NIAPN, NICVA.

OBJECTIVE 1: CONT...TO SECURE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES LINKING EAST BELFAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTORGANIZATIONS ON THE THEME OF HEALTH IMPROVEMENT – INVESTING FOR HEALTH.



Partnership Working To promote links between To make sure that all Nov 06 Health Community, Voluntary members and all other Connectionsand Statutory relevant stakeholders Workerorganizations ina more receive a copy of the structured and East Belfast Health Audit co-ordinated manner. Report.

All relevant health Ongoinginformation is circulatedthrough the CWF andYWF Meetings.

To make sure that clear Ongoinglines of communication exist between relevant stakeholders by providingand passing on information, ie communication strategy

To support existing To facilitate partnership 1 training session Health partnerships and to assist working training/ Nov 06 – Oct 07 Connectionsin the development of workshops in order to Workerworkers skills in order to promote creative methods work more effectively in of working and moving partnership. forward together.

Demonstrating Impact To promote the need to Begin to explore ways of By Oct 07d e m o n s t rate the economic monitoring and impact of intervention, evaluating on an ongoing prevention and health basis, with the possibility awareness projects with of developing a toolkit.community and health workers.

OBJECTIVE 2:TO DEVELOP INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTINFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF THIS TO LOCALITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT.



Demonstrating Impact Examine & support ways By Oct 07in which groups can beginto effe c t i ve ly measure anddemonstrate the successof their projects in orderto achieve sustainability.

To support, celebrate and EBCDA Conference with a By Oct 07 Health recognize the value of health and well-being Connectionscommunity based element attached to it. Worker and allinitiatives and identify/ other EBCDApromote what the Deliver a holistic 6-8 By Oct 07 staffcommunity does best. course for workers looking

at their physical and emotional well-being in order for them to work more effectively/look after yourself week.

Training Identify areas of training Institute of Leadership By Dec 06 Health and Social and development for Management – Team Connections Health and Social Leadership Certificate WorkerConnections Worker. completed.

Enrolment on Belfast Jan 07 Healthy Cities ‘Inequalities in Health’course.Attend any relevant Ongoingseminars/workshops.

OBJECTIVE 2: CONT...TO DEVELOP INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTINFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF THIS TO LOCALITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT.



Unmet Health Needs To carry out further Complete a small survey By July 07 Health pieces of research on the theme/objective Connectionsspecific to the Investing of mental health and Worker/Mental for Health Objectives. emotional well-being Health Promotion

(as done in South Belfast Worker within via the SEBT.) the SEBT.

Determine potential Host workshops around 4 sessions by Oct 07 Health alliances and to produce a identified and Connectionssimple action plan of unidentified unmet Workerengagement to optimize health needs.delivery or determine newopportunities.

Wellnet To develop the capacity of East Belfast/Castlereagh 4 by Oct 07 Health the local community and community/voluntary Connectionsvoluntary sector to make organizations registered Workerconnections with the on Wellnet.Investing for Health Improvement Plan

To develop a health To be updated regularly. Ongoing Health themed web page on ConnectionsEBCDA’s existing website To incorporate issues such Worker/Avecwith a link to Wellnet and as policy developments, Solutionsultimately to a wider funding, local and regionalnetwork of organisations. health events, creative

think tank to explore waysof addressing healthinequalities.

OBJECTIVE 3:TO DEVELOP LINKAGES TO THE LOCALITY INVESTING FOR HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND TOENGAGE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT UNMET HEALTH NEEDS.

east belfast community development …...to be asked therefore include whether these projects have...

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